The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently one of the top teams in the AFC and on top of the AFC North heading into their Week 9 bye. Many critics didn't see this team being competitive and predicted that Pittsburgh would finish at the bottom of the barrel of the division, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin continues to do what he does and prove people wrong. Now with Russell Wilson inserted into the equation (a move that Tomlin knew was risky), the Steelers are a team that the NFL needs to watch out for according to Julian Edelman.
Edelman was talking on Pardon My Take, and when the Steelers were brought up, he couldn't stop singing their praises. He appreciated how Tomlin wasn't afraid to do something that many coaches wouldn't try: changing quarterbacks midseason with a winning record.
"Yeah, Pittsburgh's sneaky, man," said Edelman. "Hey, you got to tip your cap to Tomlin to have the balls to do what he's done."
Edelman would even say that Pittsburgh is starting to remind him of the Legion of Boom Super Bowl teams, who Edelman is very familiar with. Not only because of the success that Wilson has had in his first two games, but how the special teams and defense have played around him.
"And it looks like it's working out because Russ, that team right now reminds me and gives me like, I'm not saying they are, but it's like those Legion of Boom Super Bowl teams," said Edelman. "Russ Wilson throws a teardrop here, deep ball there. He's got an explosive receiver to get a good run game, and play really good defense and special teams."
The Steelers being in the same conversation as the Legion of Boom should get Steelers fans excited. At their height, the Legion of Boom took the Seattle Seahawks to two Super Bowls, winning one. Edelman was apart of the New England Patriots team that beat Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX in one of the craziest endings of the Super Bowl era.
Since Wilson has been inserted into the starting quarterback position, the Steelers are averaging 31.5 points and 417.5 yards per game. Something that the offense couldn't have dreamed of doing under Matt Canada. Wilson in his first two starts for the Steelers has thrown for 542 yards and found the end zone a total of 4 times.
Pittsburgh may have found their groove on the offensive side of the ball to help alleviate the pressure from their defense, something that has held the Steelers back since Ben Roethlisberger's retirement. The defense is still causing plenty of turnovers, 15, which is tied for second in the NFL. Now the Steelers have an offense that can capitalize on those turnovers and turn them into points.
With people starting to see the potential that the Steelers have from top to bottom, not only could a playoff berth be in their future, but a deep run as well. Pittsburgh could even see true home field advantage, something that hasn't happened since the 2017 playoffs (Pittsburgh had home field advantage in the 2020 playoffs, but it was the Covid season, so limited fans were in attendance).
Steelers Will Continue Their Hot Streak After The Bye Week
The Steelers will use the bye week to get healthy and continue to elevate the offense under Wilson. Pittsburgh will get some more pieces back during the bye, including getting Cam Sutton back from suspension and hopefully Zach Frazier and Nick Herbig too for their Week 10 game against the Washington Commanders. The Steelers are one of the hottest teams in the league right now and are not showing signs of slowing up.
How would you rate the Steelers' play so far this season? Can Wilson really take the Steelers to the Super Bowl? Let us know what you think in the comments below?
This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.
